Dual-polarity plasmonic metalens for visible light

Xianzhong Chen, Lingling Huang, Holger Mühlenbernd, Guixin Li, Benfeng Bai, Qiaofeng Tan, Guofan Jin, Cheng Wei Qiu, Shuang Zhang*, Thomas Zentgraf

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

1054 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Surface topography and refractive index profile dictate the deterministic functionality of a lens. The polarity of most lenses reported so far, that is, either positive (convex) or negative (concave), depends on the curvatures of the interfaces. Here we experimentally demonstrate a counter-intuitive dual-polarity flat lens based on helicity-dependent phase discontinuities for circularly polarized light. Specifically, by controlling the helicity of the input light, the positive and negative polarity are interchangeable in one identical flat lens. Helicity-controllable real and virtual focal planes, as well as magnified and demagnified imaging, are observed on the same plasmonic lens at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The plasmonic metalens with dual polarity may empower advanced research and applications in helicity-dependent focusing and imaging devices, angular-momentum-based quantum information processing and integrated nano-optoelectronics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1198
JournalNature Communications
Volume3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dual-polarity plasmonic metalens for visible light'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this